Possible dodgy MOT. :(

LadyMorticia

Hey everyone. I posted this on another thread in The Arms but thought maybe you guys could help me too.:o

Basically, OH and I bought a Golf GTI mk3 from a private seller (you might remember me posting asking about buying it etc). We said that we would only consider buying it if he got a new MOT for it (we paid for the MOT).

He did this and it passed.

The first time we drove it, when taking the first exit from a roundabout we lost all gears (well...kind of...I think it was stuck in one gear and then wouldn't budge into any other gears). That was the start of a few problems with the car.

The local mechanic managed to fix the gearbox. Apparently a bolt had come off and the gears weren't going in.
He fixed that and then had a "sleeve" made so that it made the gears tighter as they were quite loose. Then we lost 5th gear. Apparently the lever under the bonnet wasn't lifting high enough for 5th gear. Anyway, he fixed this.
Him and OH went for a test drive and he said that one of our wheel bearings needed replacing as there was a rumble coming from outside the car but he needed to spin the wheels to find out which one.

Anyway, he fixed this today for us (it was the passenger side right wheel).

However, he also noticed some other problems with the car and he said that 3 of them wouldn't pass an MOT.

These things are:

*Steering ball joint worn
*Front suspension brushes very worn
*Rear brake disc very rusty
*Rear brake grinding

The car also gives a high pitched screen when we turn the steering wheel to the right.

Now, we've only had the car about 2-3 months so that's how old the MOT that we had done on it is.

Apparently the things that are wrong with the car aren't just things that happen overnight.
We don't "over-use" our car. I have a few appointments a month for various things, we go out most Monday evenings and occasionally go shopping but I wouldn't say we use the car excessively.

Is it possible that the MOT that was done was dodgy?

Obviously I don't want to scream "DODGY MOT!" if it's possible that these things could have happened in the last couple of months but I also don't want anyone else to be caught out if the tester is doing dodgy MOTs.

I have no idea how much the car is going to be to fix, but we rely on it as I have disabilities which mean that I can't use public transport and I have alot of appointments to get to.

If you've read this far then thank you for your time.:o

olly300

Nope.

If the car was safe to pass the MOT on the day of the test then it gets an MOT certificate. This doesn't mean that the next day it's safe to drive.


Edited to say: I had an old car with 2 of the issues you listed and it passed it's MOT. I also sold it on to someone who had a dad who knew about cars and it passed after I sold it on.

A old colleague of mine had a heap which passed it's MOT. Three months later he was stopped by the police and was advised to take off road. The policeman politely said "You know it's not safe so stop driving it."

Remember MOT doesn't mean a service even though people often get their car serviced at the same time so they only pay for one test.

Stigy

Was the Mechanic you took the car to an MOT Tester? If not, he's not really qualified to say what would and would not pass an MoT. The brakes would be okay as long as it passed on the rolling road, and the bushes would pass depending on how worn they are and whether or not they was excessive play in them.

On the flipside, some MoT Testers are better than others

If you generally believe that the car shouldn't have passed an MoT, bearing in mind it was a few journeys ago now, call VOSA.

s_b

Stigy wrote: »

Was the Mechanic you took the car to an MOT Tester? If not, he's not really qualified to say what would and would not pass an MoT. The brakes would be okay as long as it passed on the rolling road, and the bushes would pass depending on how worn they are and whether or not they was excessive play in them.

On the flipside, some MoT Testers are better than others

If you generally believe that the car shouldn't have passed an MoT, bearing in mind it was a few journeys ago now, call VOSA.

i would put that statement the other way round unfortunately as some mot testers basically havent got a clue whereas a mechanic would know what is safew for the road but an mot might pass as an advise
to op its too late to complain im afraid
teld you not to buy it mind:(

mikey72

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Him and OH went for a test drive and he said that one of our wheel bearings needed replacing as there was a rumble coming from outside the car but he needed to spin the wheels to find out which one.

Anyway, he fixed this today for us (it was the passenger side right wheel).

However, he also noticed some other problems with the car and he said that 3 of them wouldn't pass an MOT.

These things are:

*Steering ball joint worn
*Front suspension brushes very worn
*Rear brake disc very rusty
*Rear brake grinding

The car also gives a high pitched screen when we turn the steering wheel to the right.

The gear box linkages will be fine now they've been sorted.
Bearing could have gone any time, rumbling wouldn't always be picked up at the mot, unless there is a lot of play as well.
Ball joint and suspension bushes are subjective, and so long as the brakes work, they'll pass.
Where any marked as advisories?

Stigy

s_b wrote: »

i would put that statement the other way round unfortunately as some mot testers basically havent got a clue whereas a mechanic would know what is safew for the road but an mot might pass as an advise
to op its too late to complain im afraid
teld you not to buy it mind:(

An MoT Tester should no what he's doing, as he's the one who's entruster to carry out the test. Also, I believe an MoT tester has to be as qualified to carry out maintenance and repairs as a Mechanic, and they often do as well as MoTs.

colino

Unfortunately what utter, utter, !!!!!!!!. You might regard an MOT tester as the leader of his field, but try for a second to understand now how easy it is to become a qualified MOT tester. (Instant apologies for all the good guys who know how ludicrous the system has become and how bad the 422 will make it ).

Hammyman

Stigy wrote: »

Also, I believe an MoT tester has to be as qualified to carry out maintenance and repairs as a Mechanic, and they often do as well as MoTs.

You believe wrongly. An MOT is a visual inspection with no dismantling. An MOT examiner merely has to be able to correctly identify faults. They don't have to be able to repair them or even say what has caused them. The requirement for an MOT tester is that they can say a testable item is a pass or a fail.

And believe it or not, you don't have to have a City and Guilds 381/383 or BTEC to be a motor vehicle mechanic. Anyone can set up as one.

cyclonebri1

colino wrote: »

Unfortunately what utter, utter, !!!!!!!!. You might regard an MOT tester as the leader of his field, but try for a second to understand now how easy it is to become a qualified MOT tester. (Instant apologies for all the good guys who know how ludicrous the system has become and how bad the 422 will make it ).

:T:T:T
That is so true.

But back to the heart of this thread.

The mot indicates that the vehicle is fit by vosa standards to use on the road?.

That opinion/certification applies at the moment of the test, and unfortunately only by that vosa sanctioned agent, any implication that said vehicle is good or safe will be instantly denied by all parties, VOSA inc.

Is there really any point??

Stigy

Hammyman wrote: »

You believe wrongly. An MOT is a visual inspection with no dismantling. An MOT examiner merely has to be able to correctly identify faults. They don't have to be able to repair them or even say what has caused them. The requirement for an MOT tester is that they can say a testable item is a pass or a fail.

And believe it or not, you don't have to have a City and Guilds 381/383 or BTEC to be a motor vehicle mechanic. Anyone can set up as one.

I know anybody can be a Mechanic without any qualifications. What I meant about being an MoT Tester knowing what he's doing, is that they surely have to have a track record in the motor industry, and as such know what they're looking at.

pendulum

Hammyman wrote: »

You believe wrongly.

I don't think he does...
To become a Nominated Tester (NT) you must:

• be sponsored by the Authorised Examiner (AE) of a Vehicle Testing Station - in sponsoring you the AE is not only stating that to the best of their belief you have the necessary background, experience, integrity, etc. to carry out MOT Testing but is also willing to provide the necessary facilities for you to practice Testing and to be able to demonstrate to VOSA that you are competent before you are allowed to carry out actual Tests;
• be at least 20 years old;
• have a full unrestricted UK driving licence for the vehicle class(es) you wish to Test. (see note below)
• be a skilled mechanic with at least four years experience repairing the vehicle types to be Tested;
• have no "unspent" convictions, as defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, for criminal offences connected with the Vehicle Testing Scheme or the motor trade, or involving acts of violence or intimidation;
• be otherwise of good repute.

What he said seems completely correct to me.

Regarding the issues with the OP, I doubt the MoT is dodgy. It is likely a case of the mechanic noticing problems which he would quite like to be paid to fix, but that are, or at least were, still a pass in the opinion of a qualified MoT tester (the amount of wear and play are subjective).